Opening new horizons: the Friedhelm Loh Group launches a new exchange programme for students

30.11.2015. The Friedhelm Loh Group is committed to adding an international dimension to its cooperative education (Duales Studium) offering – for example, as a partner to the Central Hesse European Industrial Experience (EIEM) exchange programme. EIEM is a new joint initiative of Central Hesse Technical University (THM) and the StudiumPlus programme. It enables students from across the world to gain work experience in Germany – and it sends young Germans out into the wider world for similar internships. This summer, Piotr Guzik, an engineering student from Poland, became the first to spend a semester with the Friedhelm Loh Group.

Every year, students from all four corners of the globe come to Germany to learn. Piotr Guzik, an engineering major from Poland, was drawn to Germany’s Duales Studium cooperative education programme, which combines classroom studies with hands-on work experience. He came to Germany with support from the Loh Academy, an in-house education facility of the Friedhelm Loh Group, and the Central Hesse European Industrial Experience (EIEM). This international exchange programme, offered by the Central Hesse Technical University (THM) in Giessen, Germany, was launched by Loh Academy and other partner organisations in an effort to add a more international dimension – and to establish an ongoing relationship with tomorrow’s global workforce. Corporate Communications Regina Wiechens-Schwake Tel.: +49 2772 505-2527 E-mail: wiechens-schwake.r@rittal.de Dr. Carola Hilbrand Tel.: +49 2772 505-2680 E-mail: hilbrand.c@rittal.de Rittal GmbH & Co. KG Auf dem Stützelberg 35745 Herborn www.rittal.com

In Poland, Guzik studied engineering with an emphasis on automation and robotics – so it comes as little surprise that he particularly enjoyed his placement at Kiesling. The Friedhelm Loh Group subsidiary specialises in automation technology for enclosure manufacture. As the 29-year old explains: “The three months I spent at Kiesling Maschinenbau flew by. I learned a lot about my future profession, and the development of automated manufacturing, in a very brief period. And thanks to the new friends I’ve made, I’ll think back on my time with the Friedhelm Loh Group for years to come.” During his semester at Kiesling, Guzik worked on the design of a machine user interface.

Daniel Wirth, who is responsible for cooperative education activities within the Friedhelm Loh Group, helped develop the programme. EIEM is an established international offering, and as Wirth underlines: “It offers us a wealth of benefits. Exchange students bring new ideas, and innovative viewpoints – which can be very helpful in product development.” Moreover, as a global player, the Friedhelm Loh Group is keen to highlight the quality of training available at the organisation to an international audience. “This strengthens the economy of Central Hesse, and attracts young people to our region.”

In turn, German students at THM have the opportunity to spend a semester abroad. Wirth continues, “This enables the students to acquire international and intercultural skills, and makes the degree courses more attractive.”

International exchange opportunities within the scope of EIEM are now a firm feature of the StudiumPlus cooperative education offering of the Friedhelm Loh Group. The international, family-owned organization has been named one of Germany’s leading employers by the Top Employers Institute for the seventh year running. It is a recognised innovative player in enclosure technologies, IT infrastructure, automated manufacturing and engineering.

Additional information can be found at this website (in German): www.studiumplus.de/wps/splus/home/studiumplus/eiem/